A multi-disciplinary approach to the phenomena that has been labelled Indigenous entrepreneurship. The student will explore historical accounts and practices of Indigenous peoples from around the globe focusing on Australia and the Pacifica in the first instance and North America as a secondary study. The unit reviews entrepreneurial activity in Australia dating back to 6000 BC, examining the socio-economic attributes of entrepreneurial or commercial activity within an Indigenous understanding or standpoint. Internationally students will examine 400 years of colonisation and its impact on Indigenous commercial activity with the impact of currency and financial practices. The unit holistically reviews entrepreneurial aspects of social interaction that predates and often operates outside of western accepted management and modern entrepreneurial theory.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Investigate the activities, practices, leadership, values and contributions made by Australian Indigenous entrepreneurs in terms of culture and profit;
2. Critically analyse issues of authenticity in depicting Indigenous culture in entrepreneurship;
3. Determine any potential blockages and barriers to success for indigenous entrepreneurship in a range on contexts and countries;
4. Critically explore entrepreneur/leader development and enterprise/leadership development in an indigenous context; and
5. Critically explain the importance of the study of new directions in Indigenous enterprise.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Skills development

This unit is student-centered, focusing on contemporary and historical issues. Knowledge, skills, and attributes will be acquired through a broad range of teaching and learning approaches - listening/viewing/reading. The teaching pedagogy is 'flipped' placing responsibility onto the student to come to class equipped with prior knowledge gained from that week's readings (or wider reading) in advance. Students will be taught the basic skills of 'effective reading' reading for meaning, not for facts. This together with increased research skills will improve the student attributes.  Experiential learning and other approaches will also be adopted to ensure the student is active in Creative, Designing increasing skills in Research and Inquiry. Objective thinking will be encouraged to simulate rational thought processes - skills required in the modern workplace.

 

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.